Pontoon planer

ABSTRACT

The pontoon planer is a planer assembly for a pontoon boat that includes a pair of planer foils attached to the undersurface of the boat. Each foil presents a wedge-shaped profile, and a respective foil is disposed between the motor mount and a respective pontoon. The planers function to channel water in a downward direction to provide a lifting force to allow the pontoons to plane at lower speeds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to watercraft accessories, and particularly to a pontoon planer assembly for attachment to the bottom of a pontoon boat to allow the boat to plane out in the water at lower RPMs with higher gas mileage and at greater speeds.

2. Description of the Related Art

Pontoon boats conventionally comprise a pair of floatation units (pontoons), spaced in parallel relationship and attached to the undersurface of the boat. The pontoon units are elongate, usually circular and extend from adjacent the bow of the boat toward and adjacent the stern. The pontoons function to provide stability to the boat especially in rough waters. However, pontoons tend to create drag at lower engine RPM, thereby decreasing efficiency (mpg) and maneuverability and increasing operational costs. Heretofore, planer structures have been provided for pontoon boats to alleviate the above conditions. However, none of these devices has proven entirely satisfactory. Thus, a pontoon planer solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The pontoon planer is a planer foil assembly for attachment to the bottom or hull of a pontoon boat. The structure comprises a pair of planer foils attached to the undersurface of the boat. Each foil presents a wedge-shaped profile, and a respective foil is disposed between the motor mount and a respective pontoon. The planers function by channeling water in a downward direction to provide a lifting force and allow the pontoons to plane at lower speeds with higher miles per gallon and attain higher top end speeds.

Accordingly, the invention presents planer foils for pontoon boats that function to plane the boat out in the water more efficiently at lower speeds. The foils also function to increase speed, fuel efficiency and maneuverability at all speeds. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a pair of pontoon planers according to the present invention, shown attached to the bottom of a pontoon boat.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single pontoon planer according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a pontoon planer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a pontoon planer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a pontoon planer according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the pontoon planer is a foil generally used as a pair of foils, which are generally indicated at 10 in the drawing. The planer foils 10 are attached to the undersurface of a boat 12, which has a pair of conventional pontoons 14 mounted thereto. The pontoons 14 extend in parallel relationship from adjacent the bow 12 a to adjacent the stern 12 b of the boat 12. A motor mount 16 is disposed at a center aft position of the boat 12. Identically configured planer foils 10 are respectively disposed on the bottom of the boat 12, each foil 10 being positioned adjacent a corresponding pontoon 14, and also being positioned between the respective pontoon 14 and the motor mount 16. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is a representative configuration, however, and not meant to be limiting. Pontoon boats of other or different configuration may require the different placement of the foil(s) 10.

As best seen in FIGS. 2-5, each of the foils 10 comprises a planar, rectangular-configured base 20 having a pair of sidewalls 22 extending perpendicularly therefrom. Each sidewall is planar and configured as a triangle in profile, as best seen in FIG. 4, and is provided with respective flanges 24 at the top edges thereof. Each flange 24 is provided with a flat surface 24 a extending normal to the sidewall 22 and a downwardly angled sloping surface 24 b, forming a generally inverted U-shape. The flanges 24 have the effect of keeping the front end 20 a of the planer foil 10 up toward the bottom of the boat 12, so that the base 20 and walls 22 form a trough-like member having a front-end 20 a and a rear end 20 b, the water flowing under the foil 10 to lift the boat 12 as the boat 12 accelerates through the water. As contemplated, each planer foil 10 will have a length of approximately five feet and a width of approximately one foot. The height at the rear end will range from approximately ten to sixteen inches. It should be noted that these dimensions might vary, depending on such factors as boat and pontoon size. Although 3003-grade Aluminum is preferred, the foils 10 may be fabricated from other suitable material, if desired. The flange 24 is sized to sufficiently attach the foils 10 to the joists of the boat bottom or hull.

In use, the planer foils 10 are attached in the positions indicated above to the undersurface of boat 12 via self-tapping bolts (or any suitable fasteners) inserted through flanges 24. The foils 10 are positioned so that the rear ends 20 b open adjacent the stern of the boat 12. The configurations of the flanges 24 insure that the front end 20 a will stay up so that all water will flow under the planer foil. As indicated above, the planers 10 function to channel water in a downward direction to provide a lifting force and allow the pontoons to plane at lower speeds with higher miles per gallon and attain higher top end speeds.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A pontoon planer for a pontoon boat, comprising a foil having: a base having a first side, a second side, a front end, and a rear end; a first sidewall attached to the first side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the first sidewall having a top edge; a second sidewall attached to the second side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the second sidewall having a top edge; a first flange formed at the top edge of the first sidewall; and a second flange formed at the top edge of the second sidewall.
 2. The pontoon planer according to claim 1, wherein said base is planar and of rectangular configuration.
 3. The pontoon planer according to claim 1, wherein said first sidewall and said second sidewall are planar and of triangular configuration.
 4. The pontoon planer according to claim 1, wherein said planer is fabricated from metal.
 5. The pontoon planer according to claim 1, wherein each said flange forms a generally inverted U-shape, the flanges being adapted for attaching said foil to the boat's hull, the flanges and sidewalls keeping the front end of the base up towards the hull, whereby water flows under said foil to lift the boat's hull as the boat accelerates through the water.
 6. A pontoon planer for a pontoon boat, comprising a foil having: a planar base of rectangular configuration, the base having a first side, a second side, a front end, and a rear end; a first planar sidewall of triangular configuration, the first sidewall being attached to the first side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the first sidewall having a top edge; a second planar sidewall of triangular configuration, the second sidewall being attached to the second side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the second sidewall having a top edge; a first flange formed at the top edge of the first sidewall; and a second flange formed at the top edge of the second sidewall.
 7. The pontoon planer according to claim 6, wherein said planer is fabricated from metal.
 8. The pontoon planer according to claim 6, wherein each said flange forms a generally inverted U-shape, the flanges being adapted for attaching said foil to the boat's hull, the flanges and sidewalls keeping the front end of the base up toward the hull, whereby water flows under said foil to lift the boat's hull as the boat accelerates through the water.
 9. A pontoon boat and planer combination, comprising: a pontoon boat having an undersurface, a bow and a stern; a pair of pontoons disposed on the undersurface, the pontoons being spaced apart and extending in parallel from adjacent the bow to adjacent the stern; a motor mount attached to the stern, the motor mount being disposed between the pair of pontoons; a first planer foil, the first planer foil being positioned between a first of the pair of pontoons and the motor mount; and a second planer foil, the second planar foil being positioned between a second of the pair of pontoons and the motor mount.
 10. The pontoon boat and planer combination according to claim 9, wherein each of said planer foils comprise: a base having a first side, a second side, a front end, and a rear end, the rear end being positioned adjacent the stern of said pontoon boat; a first sidewall attached to the first side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the first sidewall having a top edge; a second sidewall attached to the second side of the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, the second sidewall having a top edge; a first flange formed at the top edge of the first sidewall; and a second flange formed at the top edge of the second sidewall.
 11. The pontoon boat and planer combination according to claim 10, wherein said base is planar and of rectangular configuration.
 12. The pontoon boat and planer combination according to claim 11, wherein said first sidewall and said second sidewall are planar and of triangular configuration.
 13. The pontoon boat and planer combination according to claim 12, wherein each said flange forms a generally inverted U-shape, the flanges being adapted for attaching said foil to the boat's hull, the flanges and sidewalls keeping the front end of the base up toward the hull, whereby water flows under said foil to lift the boat's hull as the boat accelerates through the water. 